The Eucharist is the source and summit of our liturgical celebrations. Understanding how the Mass flows both from and toward the Holy Sacrament is important in receiving it with full heart and mind.  

Introductory Rites

The parts preceding the liturgy of the word, namely, entrance song, greeting, penitential rite, Kyrie, Gloria, and opening prayer have the character of a beginning, introduction, and preparation. The purpose of these rites is that the faithful coming together take on the form of a community and prepare themselves to listen to God's word and celebrate the Eucharist properly (General Instruction of the Roman Missal 24).
 

Liturgy of the Word

Reading from Scripture and the chants between the readings form the main part of the liturgy of the word. The homily, profession of faith, and general intercessions or prayer of the faithful expand and complete this part of the Mass (General Instruction of the Roman Missal 25).

Liturgy of the Eucharist

The liturgy of the Eucharist includes the preparation of the gifts which begins when the bread and the wine with water are brought to the altar, that is, the same elements that Christ used.

The second part of the liturgy of the Eucharist is the Eucharistic prayer which gives thanks to God for the whole work of salvation, then the gifts of bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ.

The last part of the liturgy of the Eucharist is the Communion Rite. Through the breaking of the one bread, the unity of the faithful is expressed and through communion we receive the Lord's body and blood in the same way the apostles received them from the hands of Christ (General Instruction of the Roman Missal 27-28).

The Concluding Rite

The concluding rite consists of the priest's greeting and blessing and the dismissal of the assembly, which sends each member back to doing good works while praising and blessing the Lord." (General Instruction of the Roman Missal 28)